20 Essential Oils for Health, Beauty, Healing and Wellbeing

Essential oils are among the most complex substances synthesized by aromatic plants at the peak of their development. They contain a large number of medicinal substances. For this same reason, the spectrum of their therapeutic application is so broad. Essential oil extracts have been used since ages for health, healing, beauty and physical wellbeing. Certain essential oils can also be used in the kitchen most especially for baking purposes. However, you need to be very careful and keep in mind that they are very concentrated ingredients. They can be diluted in strong alcohol, oils and fats; possibly in yogurt, cream, honey and egg yolk.

The difference between aromatic plants and non-aromatic plants is not so rigid. Aromatic plants produce essential oils and the non-aromatic class does not. There is a category of fragrant plants which contain only tiny amounts of essential oils, but are still of interest because of their use as medicinal plants.

Distilling plants that yield essential oils is very low and poses the problem of obtaining a good essence quality with a price that is still affordable. The cheapest, most common and efficient methods make use of solvents. However, toxic residues always remain in the oil, rendering it unsuitable for aromatherapy. Another rarely used technique is high-pressure distillation, which employs a liquid gas instead of steam. Although, this delivers a somewhat better quality this type is still very expensive.

A third method is in use which is called ‘synergetic co-distillation.’ This is double synergy, in both technical and therapeutic sense. For a plant with a low yield in essential oil, it is necessary to find one or two other plants which do the following:

Boost the former’s yield in essential oil when distilled together

Whose combination will create a therapeutic synergy founded on common properties

Their properties must either strengthen the virtues of the original plant or add complementary qualities to it.

To skip all the technicalities, let us have a detailed look at some of the most important essential oils for health and wellbeing along with their indications and properties.

13. Clove

Parts Used: Seeds – Eugenia caryophyllus

Properties: An anodyne to initiate a pain killing effect especially to dental related problems; a carminative to stimulate acid productive in the stomach to induce smooth muscle contractions of the intestines; its oil can be used for aromatherapy to provide warmth and help relieve digestive problems; it is a known antihelmintic that rids the body of certain unwanted parasitic worm infestations; alleviate febrile (feverish) episodes and can be utilized as an effective blood sugar reducer; it helps address premature ejaculation to some extend and is known to repel mosquitoes as well (repellent).

Indications: vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea or morning sickness, skin problems like acne vulgaris; burns, irritation of the integumentary system, and even serves to decrease too much sensitivity of the skin; given for hypotonic muscles, which includes diseases such as multiple sclerosis, metabolism disorders like Diabetes, for de-worming processes of the gastrointestinal tract.

Side Effects: Although rarely, it can be irritating to the skin if used topically. If taken within its prescribed dosage amounts, there have been no reported significant side effects.

19. Lavender, True or Lavender Fine

Parts Used: Flowers – Lavandula angustifolia Miller, L

Properties: A potent antibacterial agent, helps decrease inflammation, heals common insect bites and also an effective insect repellent, a pain killer that can be applied on the head area to help relieve certain tension headaches including migraine, sleep inducer and relaxant, decrease pimples and heal burns on the skin.

Side Effects: No reported side effects for oils taken in normal doses; in rare occasions it can induce an increased sensitivity to visible light and can be cytotoxic (dangerous to body cells especially to pregnant women).